The Austin boys hockey team continued to struggle on the defensive end as it lost 5-3 to Rochester John Marshall in its final home game of the regular season in Riverside Arena Thursday.

Nick Hackman scored all five goals for the Rockets (9-13-1 overall, 7-6-1 Big Nine).

“In our defensive zone we just kind of get lost and somebody doesn’t stick with their guy and he ends up being that guy five times,” Hackman said.

Austin has now lost (10-14 overall, 6-11 Big Nine) four games in a row and it has allowed at least five goals in its last five games. The Packers will play at Rochester Century 7:15 p.m. Saturday to close out the regular season before beginning the playoffs next week.

“We have trouble in our D zone when we’re giving up as many goals and as many shots as we are right now,” Merritt said. “We talk about it in practice and it’s just translating that to the ice. Right now we’re struggling with it. On offense we’re having some issues, because we’re trying to do too much individual work and not working as a team.”

Isaac Arnold, Bryar Flanders and Bradyen Merritt all had one goal for Austin against JM and Noah Bawek had 37 saves.

SCORING SUMMARY

JM 1  2  2  —  5

Austin 0  1  2  —  3

First period

(JM) Nick Hackman (power play) (Xander Lamppa, Aaron Macken) 7:44

Second period

(JM) Hackman (short handed) (Lamppa, Daylon Wolesky) 4:21

(A) Isaac Arnold (power play) (AJ Mueller) 5:23

(JM) Hackman (Nick Ness) 6:24

Third period

(JM) Hackman (Lamppa) :29

(A) Bryar Flanders (short handed) 6:32

(JM) Hackman 10:17

(A) Bradyen Merritt (power play) (Kory Potach, Nate Murhpy) 14:20

Shots: Austin — 31; JM — 42

Power plays: Austin — 2-for-2; JM — 2-for-3